This bill was introduced to the NYS Senate on Jan 6 and then referred to the Committee on Transportation.

BILL NUMBER: A9426

SPONSOR: Peoples-Stokes

TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in
relation to requiring one number plate on the rear of each motor vehicle

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: To repeal the two license plate
requirement for motor vehicles in New York. This legislation establishes
that only one license plate is required to be displayed on the rear of
motor vehicles registered in New York.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Section 1 of the bill amends the vehi-
cle and traffic law by repealing the requirement that two license plates
must be displayed on motor vehicles registered in New York State.
Section 2 and Section 3 repeal the commissioner discretion to issue, for
any registration year, only one plate as a set of motor vehicle, in
which event a set of disabled person or severely disabled veteran plates
for a motor vehicle shall consist of one plate. Section 4 repeals that
a set of number plates shall consist of two plates in the case of a
motor vehicle and one plate in the case of a motorcycle or trailer.
Section 5 adds Section 131-b to provide that a set of number plates or
two number plates pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivision one of
section four hundred two of this chapter. Section 6 provides the effec-
tive date.

JUSTIFICATION: Eliminating the need for a front license plate will
significantly reduce the State costs associated with production, stor-
age, and shipping. The State will save money by producing half the
amount of license plates. This money could be channeled to other needs
such as road improvements. By producing half the amount of license
plates the State will be producing less waste. License plates are not
recyclable and are difficult to dispose of properly. Less waste is
always better for the environment.

A front license plate restricts the performance of passenger vehicles.
Modern cars are no longer being designed with front plates in mind.
Installing the mounting brackets that are necessary to hold plates
interfere with the cars' aerodynamic, often get damaged during the car
washing process and also cause a devaluation of Collector's Edition or
other such Limited Edition vehicles when required to drill or otherwise
modify the from bumper. Those who move to New York must either deface or
devalue their car by drilling holes in which to mount a front license
plate, or spend time and money locating and installing parts to be able
to mount a front plate.

Unnecessary damage is sustained from minor bumper-to-bumper collisions,
because the front mounting brackets on passenger cars can cause cracks
and abrasions to the rear bumpers of the cars that they hit. Police
officers will be more productive in stopping dangerous motor vehicle
violations such as drunk driving, reckless driving, speeding, racing,
etc., since their time will not be compromised by a New York motorist
who simply did not have a front license plate display. Law enforcement
officials might be opposed to a measure abolishing the front license
plate requirement, as they might believe that losing the extra plate
will make it more difficult for them to do their jobs in the best possi-
ble manner. However, in the 21 states that do not have a front license
plate requirement, there is no evidence of a decline in public safety as
a result of the plate removal.

My front plate bracket was already on the car when we picked it up, even though the dealer had STRICT INSTRUCTIONS not to...........
Sooooooooo, even if this becomes law, I still have 4 HOLES drilled in my front bumper.....
That is the reason I decided to get vanity plates...figured if the front plate had to be on the car, I might as well have something cool written on it...